my awning fell off

[tlevan03]

This happened new years day. The weather was fine, no wind and very light rain. We were not there when this happened, we had taken off for a few hours and returned to find this. All the other campers had awnings out. So after a few beers and running ideas through my head I determined that some rope and a ratchet strap will get me home, i tied it up across the roof to the ladder on the opposite side. We have had this camper for just over a year so I assume this is a warranty issue. We make the four hour ride home and park it, I call the dealer the next business day. I take it to them to look at it, their diagnosis is that it was never properly installed. They said that it seemed that the screws were not attached to a stud, seems like it was only attached by the adhesive . They say that they will file a warranty claim through Forrest River. Few days go by and it get denied because we are just outside of our one year warranty, of course so we file through the extended warranty. Denied, seems everything except the awning is covered. I take matters into my hands and call Forrest River, after a few moments on the phone they agreed to cover that parts and labor. That was quite a relief. I just assumed that it would have gotten denied again but their warranty rep was very nice, im happy that they have good customer service. So now we wait for parts to show up and then tow it back over to the dealer so we can get back to camping.

 

[Wiredawg]

This happened new years day. The weather was fine, no wind and very light rain. We were not there when this happened, we had taken off for a few hours and returned to find this. All the other campers had awnings out. So after a few beers and running ideas through my head I determined that some rope and a ratchet strap will get me home, i tied it up across the roof to the ladder on the opposite side. We have had this camper for just over a year so I assume this is a warranty issue. We make the four hour ride home and park it, I call the dealer the next business day. I take it to them to look at it, their diagnosis is that it was never properly installed. They said that it seemed that the screws were not attached to a stud, seems like it was only attached by the adhesive . They say that they will file a warranty claim through Forrest River. Few days go by and it get denied because we are just outside of our one year warranty, of course so we file through the extended warranty. Denied, seems everything except the awning is covered. I take matters into my hands and call Forrest River, after a few moments on the phone they agreed to cover that parts and labor. That was quite a relief. I just assumed that it would have gotten denied again but their warranty rep was very nice, im happy that they have good customer service. So now we wait for parts to show up and then tow it back over to the dealer so we can get back to camping.
View attachment 126786

Great to hear customer service is alive
and well. Just a bit of advice: Never leave with your awning out... a storm can blow in or winds pick up. We also don't leave ours open at night... it's big and will catch wind like a sail

I didn't do as well with DRV Mobile Suites when 60" Smart LED TV fell off back wall, installed with 6 small self tapping screws... DRV said out of warranty, didnt matter if poor materials and workmanship AND extended warranty didn't cover poor workmanship... the TV mount or the TV had to fail... bad installation not covered.

Happy camping, Ron

 

[bcbender]

Just a bit of advice: Never leave with your awning out... a storm can blow in or winds pick up. We also don't leave ours open at night... it's big and will catch wind like a sail

We also never leave out, I cant tell you how many Ive seen blow away when a thunder storm rolls thru. Almost lost ours in very cold rain once... didnt notice that ice was building up while making supper outside,, I decided to roll it up before bed and it was twice the dia it should be and very heavy / slow to react. I also have had no issues with Forest River and our Cornerstone extended warranty has replaced our POS Dometic A/C twice now, $100 deductable and the guy comes to my shop so no need to take to the dealer. .

 

[Jim W]

I was out in South Dakota one summer camping when a thunder storm rolled in. One minute the sun was out the next minute it was raining with the wind blowing so, fast most of the trailers could not get their awnings in fast enough. Several trailers lost their awnings that day, because the owners had left them out and were gone for the day.
What saved me was my trailer door was facing east and I was at the trailer so, I was able to get the awning in.

Every evening I roll up the awning when we go in for the night, the awning never is out overnight.

 

[Ozymandias]

I was out in South Dakota one summer camping when a thunder storm rolled in. One minute the sun was out the next minute it was raining with the wind blowing so, fast most of the trailers could not get their awnings in fast enough. Several trailers lost their awnings that day, because the owners had left them out and were gone for the day.
What saved me was my trailer door was facing east and I was at the trailer so, I was able to get the awning in.

Every evening I roll up the awning when we go in for the night, the awning never is out overnight.

Freak winds, very common in the West too.
Nice and calm, and all of a sudden it blows one out of the chair...

 

[DavidC]

So far my awning is the old style mechanical which is built more robust than the new flimsy electrical. I put de-flappers on each end it it holds up well with 40mph gusts. Of course if things are not installed right to begin with there is no hope.

 

[Jim W]

David, these were mechanical awnings that were ripped off trailers. We were out in SD in 2008, with our first fiver when I witness this. After that I purchased awing hold down straps and de-flappers for our mechanical awning. But they are all removed when we put the awning in for the night.

Now on our current 5er which has an electrical awning I added a sun screen to the awning withhold downs. I also still use mechanical hold downs for the awning tube when I have the awning out. But these are removed when I put the awning in every night and when we leave.

 

[tlevan03]

We hardly ever keep the awnings out all the time, I roll them up at night. Like I said we stepped away for about two hours and came back to this. The other campers all had their awnings out and I talked with a neighbor who said she looked once and our awning was up and the next time she looked it was on the ground. I'm pretty confident in saying that the improper installation finally failed. I'm fortunate that this happened at the campground and I was able to secure it back up compared to coming off on the highway.

 

[jacknife]

Sometimes the dealer can be less then truthful to make some money .